Camphor News

FRIDAY, May 13, 2016 – Children are increasingly at risk from essential oils that are often used in natural remedies, a Tennessee poison center reports. Between 2011 and 2015, reports of toxic exposures to these oils – such as tea tree oil – doubled, the center said. Even more alarming, four out of every five cases were in children. The oils, which are derived from plants and used in aromatic and homeopathic products, can cause harm when consumed. And children face a heightened risk from exposure, the experts said. "The rule of thumb in toxicology is 'the dose makes the poison,' so all essential oils are potentially harmful," said Dr. Justin Loden, a certified specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Tennessee Poison Center. "In children, poisoning typically occurs when they try to swallow the oil, but choke so that a little of it goes into the lungs, which causes ... Read more

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 25, 2015 – Patients using prescription creams, gels, sprays and pills for skin conditions may shell out substantially more at the pharmacy than they did just six years ago, a new study suggests. Between 2009 and 2015, retail prices of brand-name dermatologic drugs rose 401 percent, on average, study authors reported Nov. 25 in JAMA Dermatology. Even generics have succumbed to price inflation, up 279 percent between 2011 and 2014, based on the drugs surveyed. Price increases for skin treatments far outpaced the general inflation rate of 11 percent during the six-year study period, the researchers said. "Cancer drugs were the worst in terms of the numbers" – up 1,240 percent or nearly $11,000 over the six-year study period – primarily because of two medicines, said Dr. Steven Rosenberg, voluntary professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of ... Read more

-- You've just finished working out, and one of your muscles is cramping and causing lots of pain. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says possible triggers for muscle cramps include: Forgetting to stretch before exercise. Having tired muscles due to overuse or lack of exercise. Exercising in hot weather, which can lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes. Sometimes muscles cramp for unknown reasons. Read more

SUNDAY, May 10, 2015 – Athletes aren't always sure whether to use heat or ice on injuries and aches and pains, so here is some advice from experts. If you suffer a sudden sports injury, you should follow a recovery program known as RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevation. "Elevation is probably the most important thing because it limits the amount of blood flow to the area and the amount of swelling," Dr. Scott Lynch, director of sports medicine at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, said in a center news release. Applying cold is important because it helps narrow blood vessels, preventing blood from accumulating at the injury site and causing too much inflammation and swelling that can delay healing. Icing an injury for the first 48 to 72 hours reduces the amount of secondary tissue damage and can also ease pain, said Dr. Cayce Onks, a family and sports medicine doctor at the medical ... Read more